TUCSON, Ariz. – February 7, 2015 – After falling in their first three games of the season, the Fort Lewis College softball team posted a 10-7 eight-inning win over Western Oregon University Saturday night.  The Skyhawks are 1-3 after two days at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Leadoff Classic at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Ariz.
 
"It feels good to get the first win of the season," said head coach Kira Zeiter.  "The team played hard and I liked how we made plays and came through with clutch hits when we needed them."
 
In the top of the first inning, Myndee Thompson singled to score Missy Fundora to give the Skyhawks a 1-0 lead.
 
Western Oregon took a 2-1 lead after scoring two runs in the bottom of the second off of one hit and an error.  WOU added another run in the bottom of the third for a 3-1 lead.
 
The Skyhawks regained the lead, 4-3, in the top of the fourth inning.  Thompson led off the inning with a triple. Jeovanna Rios reached base by drawing walk, followed by Lauren Caldwell who reached base on a fielders choice that scored Thompson.  Tristen Gilbert then singled to score Rios, followed by Denae Fisher's single that drove in Caldwell.
 
The Wolves tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning after scoring on a passed ball, 4-4.
 
Thompson drove in her second run of the game after hitting a double to score Rosthenhausler in the fifth inning for a 5-4 lead.  Fort Lewis added another run in sixth when Fundora batted in Fisher to give the Skyhawks a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
 
Western Oregon jumped back on top, 7-6, after crossing home plate three times in the sixth.
 
Caldwell drove in the tying run of the game in the seventh inning when she scored Thompson.   WOU started the seventh inning with a single.  The second batter of the inning flied out to the Skyhawks catcher, Fisher, who then threw out the leadoff runner at first base for two outs.  The third batter flied out to end regulation, 7-7.
 
The Skyhawks won the game in the top of the eighth inning.  FLC's first two batters struck out and grounded out before Fundora drew a walk to reach base.  Rosthenhousler singled and Thompson walked to load the bases.  Rios reached base on an error by the short stop and advanced to second base, resulting in Thompson, Rosthenhausler and Fundora to cross home plate for the 10-7 win.
 
Victoria Johnson earned the win after entering the game in relief to pitch the final 2.1 innings.  She allowed only one hit and no runs.  Kiley Raica started the game in the circle and worked the first 5.2 innings, surrendering four earned runs on eight hits.
 
Thompson finished the game with four hits, three runs and two runs batted in.  Fundora added three hits, two runs and one run batted in, and Fisher posted two hits, one run and one run batted in.
 
The Skyhawks defense stranded 10 Western Oregon runners on base.  Offensively, FLC tallied 13 hits, 10 runs and seven runs batted in.
 
In the first game of the day against Missouri-St. Louis, the Skyhawks dropped a 6-3 decision.  UMSL recorded one run in each of the first three innings. 
 
The Skyhawks trailed 5-0 heading into the fifth inning before charting three runs.  UMSL added an insurance run in the fifth to seal the game, 6-3.
 
Fort Lewis recorded eight hits.  Thompson posted two hits while Fundora, Rosthenhausler, Gilbert, Caldwell and Nikki Klepfer each added one.
 
Katie Watkins pitched the entire game, allowing six runs (six earned) on 11 hits, three home runs and two strikeouts.
 
The Skyhawks will face Colorado State-Pueblo Sunday morning at 10 a.m.  FLC will face either MSU Denver or Regis in the afternoon game.